Malta Airport sets 2013 passenger record

Malta International Airport today reached another milestone in its history, hosting four million passengers in one year for the first time. The figure is equivalent to 10 times the population of Malta or almost half of London's population passing through the airport in one year.

Passenger traffic increased by 10% over last year, making Malta's airport the fastest-growing European airport in its class.*
 
"Considering the fact that we first reached three million passengers in December 2008, things have changed very quickly in just five years," MIA CEO Markus Klaushofer said.
 
"This year gave us immensely positive results, with record figures hit every single month," he added.
 
Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella expressed his great satisfaction for this all-time record reached just a few days before the end of 2013. While congratulating MIA for this great success, he also thanked all stakeholders involved in the tourism industry for working hand-in-hand throughout the past months.
 
"This year will be remembered as a truly positive one in the tourism industry, with exceptional results not only in numbers but also in the amount of bed nights and expenditure," he said, auguring that 2014 would be another successful year in tourism.
 
MTA CEO Josef Formosa Gauci said: "Today marks a major milestone for Malta's airport and Malta's Tourism industry as a whole. The reaching of 4 million passengers was something that up to a few years ago was considered unachievable but this year as a result of the cooperation between all stakeholders, has actually become a reality."
 
To mark the occasion, Malta International Airport Chief Commercial Officer, Alan Borg presented the 4 millionth passenger with a gift, a handmade gemstone globe, in the presence of Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella and his Chief of Staff Joseph Bonello, together with Malta Tourism Authority CEO Josef Formosa Gauci.
 
The year's results were achieved thanks to a 10% increase in seat capacity while maintaining an average seat load factor of 78.3%. Seat capacity is the number of seats available across all served routes, while the seat load factor refers to the amount of seats taken up as a percentage of the availability. The results were also achieved thanks to increases in traffic from all of Malta's major markets.
 
According to data provided by Airports Council International for the period January to October 2013, Malta ranks first in terms of year-on-year growth when compared to other European airports serving between three and five million passengers per year.
 
According to these figures, only three other European airports in MIA's class experienced more than five per cent growth: Stavanger (Norway) with 7.3% growth, East Midlands (England) with 6.4% growth and Krakow (Poland) with 5.1% growth.
 
Malta ranks first for year-on-year growth when compared to other European airports which serve between three and five million passengers. This is based on Airports Council International traffic data for January to October 2013.